Method of configuring a two-way wireless load control system having one-way wireless remote control devices

• US 8,598,978 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Knode, Galen Edgar
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akhter, Sharmin
• Application Number:
  US12/874,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20120056712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 340 31- 39, 340 1223- 1229, 370/432, 370/433, 370/437, 370/445, 370/447, 348/734, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/3.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A radio-frequency (RF) load control system includes both two-way and one-way (e.g., transmit-only) remote control devices, and provides a simple, reliable process for configuring the one-way devices into the system. The one-way device may be programmed to operate at one of a predetermined number of radio frequencies as part of a frequency-selection procedure, during which, the one-way device transmits a test command to a signal repeater of the system. If the test command is transmitted at the same frequency as the repeater, the repeater emits an audible beep to inform the user that the remote control is transmitting at the appropriate frequency. To associate the two-way devices with the system, the signal repeater streams an “enter address mode” command. To allow the one-way device to be associated with the system, the signal repeater pauses the transmission of the enter address mode command to allow the one-way device to transmit an activation request message to the signal repeater.

Claims

1. A method of assigning a radio frequency transmit-only remote control device to a radio frequency load control system, the load control system comprising a plurality of two-way control devices that transmit and receive RF control signals to control the operation of electrical loads, the method comprising:

transmitting a plurality of enter address mode commands to the two-way control devices;

pausing the transmission of the enter address mode commands for a predetermined period of time before repeating the transmission of the enter address mode commands;

entering the transmit-only remote control device into an activation mode;

transmitting from the transmit-only remote control device an activation request message that includes a unique identifier of the transmit-only remote control device;

at a receiving control device of the load control system, receiving the activation request message from the transmit-only remote control device during the step of pausing the transmission of the enter address mode commands; and

if the activation request message has been received, checking a memory of the receiving device to determine if the unique identifier is already stored, and, if not already stored, storing the unique identifier in the memory to assign the transmit-only remote control device to the load control system;

wherein the transmit-only remote control device, when in the activation mode, transmits a plurality of activation request messages wherein the plurality of activation request messages are transmitted for a length of time that exceeds a length of time that the plurality of enter address mode commands are transmitted so that an activation request message will be present during at least part of the pause so that the receiving device can receive the activation request message during the pause.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of entering the remote control device into an activation mode of operation comprises holding an actuator on the remote control device for a predetermined time period whereby the remote control device enters the activation mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, at the receiving device, the receiving device enters the activation mode at predetermined times whereby the receiving device transmits a plurality of enter address mode commands followed by a pause before repeating the enter address modes commands.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier comprises a serial number of the remote control device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is assigned to the load control system by storing the unique identifier in the receiving device memory and further comprising transmitting to other receiving devices of the load control system an indication of the assignment of the remote control device to the load control system.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface equipped device with software defining all load control devices that are part of the load control system;

programming the remote control device to operate a specified load control device;

building a database including the programming of the remote control devices and load control devices; and

downloading the database to the load control system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of downloading the database to the load control system comprises downloading the database into a memory of a main repeater of the load control system.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting, via RF signals from the main repeater to the control devices of the load control system, selected parts of the database to inform the load control devices of the programming between respective load control devices and remote control devices.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

performing a programming procedure at a load control device of the load control system to program the remote control device to control the load control device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of performing a programming procedure comprises holding an actuator of the remote control device for a predetermined period of time, whereby the remote control device provides an RF signal to the load control device, and further comprising holding an actuator on the load control device for a predetermined period of time, whereby the load control device receives the RF signal from the remote control device, and programs the remote control device to operate the load control device, whereby the remote control device can control the load control device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining of the address command is being received is performed at a repeater of the load control system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if the address command is being received is performed at a device that is used at set-up of the load control system to program the assignment of remote control devices to load control devices of the system.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the remote control device with a system address in the load control system by assigning the unique identifier with the system address.

14. A radio frequency (RF) load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a plurality of electrical loads, the system comprising:

a plurality of two-way control devices operable to transmit and receive RF control signals to control the operation of the electrical loads;

a one-way remote control device operable to transmit RF control signals to one or more of the two-way control devices to control the operation of the electrical loads; and

a main controller operable to transmit a plurality of enter address mode commands to the two-way control devices, and pause the transmission of the enter address mode commands for a predetermined period of time before repeating the transmission of the enter address mode commands;

wherein the one-way remote control device is operable to enter into an activation mode, and transmit an activation request message that includes a unique identifier of the one-way remote control device, the main controller operable to receive the activation request message from the one-way remote control device while the transmission of the enter address mode commands is paused, the main controller further operable to check a memory of the main controller to determine if the unique identifier is already stored when the activation request messages has been received, and store the unique identifier in the memory to assign the one-way remote control device to the load control system if the unique identifier is not already stored;

wherein the one-way remote control device, when in the activation mode, transmits a plurality of activation request messages wherein the plurality of activation request messages are transmitted for a length of time that exceeds a length of time that the plurality of enter address mode commands are transmitted so that an activation request message will be present during at least part of the pause so that the main controller can receive the activation request message during the pause.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a graphical user interface equipped device with software defining all load control devices that are part of the load control system, the graphical user interface equipped device operable to program the one-way remote control device to operate a specified two-way control device, build a database including the programming of the one-way remote control device and the corresponding two-way load control device, and download the database to the load control system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the graphical user interface equipped device is operable to download the database into the memory of the main controller.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the main controller is operable to transmit to the control devices of the two-way control system selected parts of the database to inform the two-way control devices of the programming between respective two-way control devices and one-way remote control devices.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the graphical user interface equipped device comprises a personal computer.